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This evening, the highly anticipated 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards were announced in front of 125 industry guests from across Australia. The Halliday Wine Companion Awards recognise the nation’s top wines, winemakers, viticulturists, and wineries across the country’s wine regions.

Hosted at the prominent St Kilda restaurant the Stokehouse, the 2024 Companion also marked the inaugural inductees to the James Halliday Hall of Fame in two classes: Wine and Australian Wine Industry. The new accolades recognise a wine that has won its category on five occasions or more and acknowledges individuals of the Australian wine industry deemed to be of the highest regard and significance.

This year’s honourees and Award winners were presented by the Halliday Tasting Team, chief editor Campbell Mattinson, founder James Halliday AM, as well as expert judges Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Philip Rich and Shanteh Wale.

“This year’s Awards and honourees underpin the strength and diversity of Australian wine amongst our regions. As a collective tasting team, we were in awe of the value that was represented in this year’s winners. We’ve unearthed some gems and honoured the very best of the best Australia has to offer. Our love for wine has only become stronger after tasting over 8500 wines across the year – it was a pleasure to taste alongside our expert judges. Congratulations to all the winners.”

– Halliday Wine Companion chief editor, Campbell Mattinson

The Awards also mark the release of the wine-enthusiast’s bible, the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion, which is available in stores nationally from Thursday, August 3. The book is a comprehensive guide to Australia’s leading wines, wineries, and grape growing regions, including all Award winners and tasting notes. More than 5000 tasting notes are printed in the 2024 Companion, with more than 8500 tasting notes available online at winecompanion.com.au.

This year’s major Awards represented regions including Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, Alpine Valleys, Victoria, Yarra Valley and Beechworth, Eden Valley and Hall of Fame in Barossa Valley, which both sit within the Barossa region. The varietal winners span three states: South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria.

@winecompanion @hardiegrantbooks

winecompanion.com.au

JAMES HALLIDAY HALL OF FAME

James Halliday Hall of Fame: Wine – Seppeltsfield 100-Year-Old Para Vintage Tawny 1923, Barossa Valley, SA (100 points)

James Halliday Hall of Fame: Wine Industry – Prue Henschke of Henschke Wines, Keyneton, SA

2024 MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

Winery of the Year – Bleasdale Vineyards, Langhorne Creek, SA Winemaker of the Year – Kate

Goodman, Penley Estate, Coonawarra, SA Viticulturist of the Year – Mark Walpole, Fighting

Gully Road, Beechworth, VIC Best New Winery – Joshua Cooper Wines, Victoria

Dark Horse – Anderson & Marsh, Alpine Valleys, VIC

Best Value Winery – Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley, VIC

Wine of the Year – Yangarra Estate Vineyard Old Vine Grenache 2021, McLaren Vale, SA 2024

VARIETAL WINNERS

Red Wine of the Year – Yangarra Estate Vineyard Old Vine Grenache 2021, McLaren Vale, SA – 99 points

White Wine of the Year – Landaire at Padthaway Estate Chardonnay 2021 Padthaway – 98 points

Sparkling Wine of the Year – Sittella Wines Grand Prestige Late Disgorged 2010 Pemberton – 97 points

Riesling of the Year – Limefinger Solace Riesling 2022 Clare Valley – 98 points

Chardonnay of the Year – Landaire at Padthaway Estate Chardonnay 2021 Padthaway – 98 points

Semillon of the Year – Pepper Tree Wines Museum Release Limited Release Tallawanta Single Vineyard Semillon 2013 Hunter Valley – 99 points

Sauvignon Blanc of the Year – Domaine Naturaliste Sauvage Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Margaret River – 96 points

Pinot Gris/Grigio of the Year – Mayer Bloody Hill Villages HealesvillePinot Gris 2022 Yarra Valley – 96 points

Other Whites & Blends of the Year – John Kosovich Wines Bottle Aged Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018 Swan Valley – 98 points

Rosé of the Year – Sutton Grange Winery Fairbank Rosé 2022 Central Victoria Zone – 97 points

Pinot Noir of the Year – Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 Yarra Valley – 98 points

Grenache & Blends of the Year – Yangarra Estate Vineyard Old Vine Grenache 2021 McLaren Vale – 99 points

Shiraz of the Year – Murdoch Hill The Landau Single Vineyard Oakbank Syrah 2021 Adelaide Hills – 99 points

Cabernet Shiraz Blend of the Year – Bleasdale Vineyards Wellington Road Shiraz Cabernet 2021 Langhorne Creek – 98 points

Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year – Bleasdale Vineyards The Iron Duke Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Langhorne Creek – 98 points

Cabernet & Family of the Year – Houghton C.W. Ferguson Cabernet Malbec 2020 Frankland River – 98 points

Other Reds & Blends of the Year – Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 3 2021 Yarra Valley – 97 points
Sweet Wine of the Year – De Bortoli (Riverina) Noble One Botrytis Semillon 2020 Riverina– 96 points

Fortified Wine of the Year – All Saints Estate Museum Muscat NV, Rutherglen – 100 points